Jean Shafiroff: The Importance and Power of Giving Back

The exciting life of Jean Shafiroff captivates from the moment one is introduced to her. Hardworking and dedicated to a myriad of causes, this philanthropist works with a dedication rarely seen. Often referred to as “the First Lady of Philanthropy” by the international press, Shafiroff is most humble when asked about this. She responds, “I only want to do the best job I can for the different causes that I am involved with. I plan to continue my philanthropic work for the rest of my life.”

As a philanthropic leader, TV host, and the author of the book Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life By What You Give, Shafiroff is defined by the power of giving back. This visionary focuses on leading the world to a future to where far less suffering exists. The deeper meaning of her existence is to do things with positive intent. From Shafiroff’s perspective, to make the world more equitable through philanthropic work is to create an everlasting positive impact.

Encouraging others to dedicate their lives to creating change through volunteering is vitally important to Jean Shafiroff. Her dedicated philanthropic work over the years proves that hard work, leadership, intelligence and teamwork combine to produce lasting powerful results.

Shafiroff, who comes from a Long Island middle-class family, was instilled from an early age with the importance of giving back. Her music teacher father and stay-at-home mother had the family doing volunteer work at the schools and church they attended. Parents and teachers were excellent role models who ingrained in her life-changing values.

After graduating from Columbia University with a bachelor’s of science in physical therapy and then a master of business administration in finance from the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University, Shafiroff pursued a career on Wall Street. When she was married and had children, she volunteered at her daughters’ schools and served on different charity boards. Today Jean Shafiroff serves on seven boards and chairs between eight and 10 large fundraising galas each year. In addition, she hosts and underwrites numerous large cocktail parties in her homes and elsewhere for many different charitable organizations.

Jean Shafiroff spends many hours each day working to promote various causes. She also leads and motivates others to get involved. Jean is also very generous to many different causes. Her days are often spent in front of the computer and on calls to promote organizations and boost representation for them. She is a national leader in philanthropy. Her main areas of focus are women’s rights, rights of underserved populations, healthcare, and animal rights. She is also interested in furthering LGBTQ+ equality, cancer awareness campaigns, and many other causes. Shafiroff is involved in motivating the next generation and aims to instill in them hope as they follow her on their own pathway to successful philanthropy. The events she chairs have large groups of philanthropists as well as young juniors as supporters.

The art of giving back is witnessed in Jean Shafiroff’s impressive and inspirational ways of being a true patron of philanthropy. Her charitable work includes serving on the boards of the Southampton Hospital Association, New York Women’s Foundation, Mission Society of New York City, Casita Maria, Couture Council (Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology), French Heritage Society, Global Strays, and Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation honorary board. A Catholic, Shafiroff served on the board of The Jewish Board for 28 years and is now an honorary trustee. During the pandemic Jean Shafiroff served as national spokesperson for the American Humane and was instrumental in helping this nonprofit raise over $1,000,000 for 1 million homeless animals in shelters across the United States.

All of Shafiroff’s work is understandably important and is why, in September 2022 she was officially proclaimed the “First Lady of Philanthropy of New York” by New York State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright, who represents New York’s 76th District, in Manhattan. Then in November 2022, the 117th U.S. Congress recognized Shafiroff for her work in philanthropy. This recognition was given by U.S Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who represented the 14th Congressional District, in New York.

Shafiroff has been honored dozens of times by charities, including Urban Resource Institute, American Humane, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, New York City Mission Society, French Heritage Society, Southampton Animal Shelter, Surgeons of Hope, Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation, Operation Warrior Shield, Viennese Opera Ball, Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, the Ellen Hermanson Foundation, Dominican Women’s Development Center, Fashion for Development, New York State Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright’s Women’s Leadership Awards, She Exist magazine, Pet Philanthropy Circle, Animal Zone International, Health Advocates for Older People, Southampton African American Museum, Women’s eNews, Youth Counseling League, the New York City International Film Festival, The Jewish Board, and Hadassah. In December 2020, Dan’s Papers named her “Philanthropist of the Year” at its Power Women of the East End award ceremony. Since then, Dan’s Papers has honored Shafiroff at least three more times for her philanthropic work.

As a leading authority on the art of giving, Jean Shafiroff has been featured on the covers of dozens of magazines. She has also written about philanthropy for many publications and has spoken about philanthropy on countless TV shows and podcasts. Her TV show, Successful Philanthropy, which airs six times each week in the Hamptons and can be viewed on YouTube, gives celebrities, politicians, executive directors of charities and fellow philanthropists an opportunity to speak about their lives and philanthropic work. Shafiroff has a large social media platform and uses it to promote positivity, philanthropy, and her love of fashion. Her Instagram account @JeanShafiroff has over 1.2 million followers.

“The main message of my book, Successful Philanthropy: How to Make a Life By What You Give, is that anyone can become a philanthropist. If you do not have large amounts of money to donate to a cause, you can become a philanthropist by giving your time and knowledge,” Shafiroff said in Glamour South Africa. “However, I do believe that those that have financial resources have an obligation to give. Another important message that was conveyed in my book is that giving is truly rewarding. When we give to help others, we achieve great personal satisfaction. Giving is most often far more satisfying than receiving. The purpose of writing my book was to motivate others and then to serve as a guide for philanthropic work.” Jean is currently completing another book, to be published soon.

Philanthropy the way Shafiroff encourages it can help make the world a more equitable place. The power of giving creates gratification for both the giver and the receiver. Through volunteering, contributing financially and giving of one’s knowledge to help others, life can become far more rewarding and filled with purpose.